Panel-board.



v No. 871,348. PATENTED NOV, 19, 190?.

H.'KRANTZ.

PANEL BOARD.

APPLIOATION FILED J'ULY6,1905.

PATENTED NOV 19 1907.

H KRANTZ. PANEL BOA-RD.

APPLICATION FILED IULY6,1905

lllilillli'l RRANTZ, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK' PANEL-BOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

A licmlnn'filed Julv 6, 1905. Serial in. 268,310.

To 11f" (IF/loin it may co'rwerm,

Be it known that 1, ,ltunnn'r KnAN'rz, a citizenv of the linited States, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New Ii'orlr, have invented certain new and useful 'lan i-llmirds, of which the following is a speci ion.

This invention broadly relates to electrical switch board i'nechanisms, such as boards or the like, but it refers more 1 an tit-ularly to improvements in the construcof such switch boards as are adapted to pix vide for the use of safety fuse devices of civerse form. v g

The herein described invention has'for its object to so simplify the elements and condense the cmnbimuions aml'arrangements thereof in clectlical switch boards that the site and cost of the latter will be materially.

- reduced, and to so reduce the-number of oi id connections, at the same time 1mprmn the lealures of lnSUliltlOIl, that the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will he exemplified in the construction hereinafter fortlnand the scope of the appli-' cation of which will beindicated in thefollowa hove slated ends maybe attained, c clearly (EXPIGSSNl and made ole to others, 1 have appcni'led, "his inycntion, drawings of two uotion embodying such inthough in the light of this disorinciples may readily be carried us other modified structures by in the art.

w ngs, like letters of reference ending parts throughout all .hich:

vertical section taken along illustrating the compact u to an embodiment of in which safety fuse devices 'iililuse-pli1gs which afford a. :ct contact with the underhie. 3 is a plan view neral ass mblage of the-buslhe brass shells r parts. Fig. 3 1s a longirwi'l uni ol part of the safety invenl'ii'm, and the manner in fuse device constituting a receptacle adapted to accommodate two fuseplugs. Fig. 4 1s a bottom view of, Fig. 3 showing one mode of retaining in the receptacle a screw-threaded shell constituting a terminal of the safety .fuse device. .Fig. 5 is a vertical. section taken similarly to Fig. l, but showing a modified embodiment of my invention in which the safety fuse device is of a peculiar construction, whereby certain of the conductors are clamped between terminals of said device.

Referring now to'such drawings, through the assistance of the hereinafter-specified reference letters, it will bcnoted that the construction thereby shown. exemplifies an embodiment of the invention in its application to a simple two-pole system, comprising the usual two busbars of diverse polarity herev designated as 1 and 2, thougln-as will be very readilv comprehended, it may equally be applic to three-wire or other systems. Such bus-bars are suitably mounted, preferably flabwise, upon an appropriate base 3 so as to extend parallelly thereacross. Either or both of said bus-bars maybe more or less incased within or otherwise insulated by sheaths 11 and 21' of non-conducting material, such sheaths preferably having the general form of a channel bar, as shown, so as to cover the sides and tops of the busbars. S'urmounting the bus-bars are suitable safety fuse devices, such for example as those shown in the accompanying drawings. These safety fuse devices comprise a receptacle having a suitable terminal and a removable plug adapted to be inserted in said receptacle, and also provided with a terminal, so that'each safety fuse device will have two terminals, one for the entering of the current and the other for the egress of the current. As one very important and valuable feature of my invention resides in the provision ofadirect contact with the underlyinp bus-bar of a terminal of each of the sin-mounting safety fuse devices, theinsulating sheaths will be so formed or cut away at intervals as to leave exposed in suitable places enough of the bus-bar surface to make the desired contacts. Thus, in the embodiment shown by'Figs. 1, 2 and 5 the sheaths are broken away or orificed in-tl1ctop in all places wherever it is intended to have the current pass from the underlying-bus-bar directly up through one of the terminals of l the surmounting safety fuse devices, the latter being so constructed and arranged in the minal. The sheaths may also be cut away in the sides so that the cross-bars extending from above an adjacent bus-bar may pass therethrough into direct contact with the sheathed bus-bar.

In order that the appropriate terminals of the safety fuse devices may be brou ht into electrical communication with the (istant bus-bars, the latter are provided withextensions or arms constituting the crossbars, which terminate within the receptacles forming a part of the safety fuse devices, wherein they may be directly united to and contacted with the said terminals to establish the various circuits of the switch board without the use of excess material or an undue number of contactsin its construction. Such extensions are exemplified in the drawings by the cross-bars 23am] 13, each extending from a direct underlying contact.

with its bus-bar and terminating above the insulated surface of the bus-bar of opposite polarity, at which point a direct contact will be had'with the appropriate terminal of the safety fuse device, the terminal being the fuse-plug-end or the shell, as the preference may be.

Figs. 1 to 4- illustrate a structure wherein suitable means is provided for retaining a terminal of the safety fuse device in direct contact with one of the underlying conductors, as set forth by the foregoing. Such structure may comprise fuse-plug sockets mounted directly over the exposed portions of a bus-bar and also directly over exposed ends of extensions from another-bus-bar. While such receptacles may be designed to accommodate one or more [use-plugs, l prefer the dual construction shown as H and 24 on the appended drawing, as the same is well adapted for being made at a very small cost and is capable of being very readily assembled in making up the entire switch board construction, inasmuch as but a singleat taching screw will sullicc to allix the socket in place, the shell being also retained at the same time in cases where such is used. Such receptacles are preferably so devised that the fuse plug inscrtcd thcrcin may make direct contact with thc undcrlying conductor by protruding its cud or tip through a bot tom opening, as shown. 'lhcsc receptacles arc very simple in lorm, being, broadly speaking, of a ring-like shape, and afford a most convenient means for retaining the fuseplo in firm direct contact with the exposed und erlying bus-bar or bus-bar extension, as the case may be. Generally it will be found to be preferable to use a threaded metallic shell, as it notonly tends to protect the more fragile socket shell from injury but also adds to the appearance and general electrical advantages of the structure. The shell, which I have here shown and designated as 4, may vhave radially extending lugs 41 which fit within corresponding pockets in the base of the porcelain socket, so that to assemble such parts over the bus-bars it is merely necessary to place the porcelain socket over the brass shell and secure the former in place, thereby simultaneously affixing the latter and forming a rigid structure throughout by a simple operation. Branch line terminals 5 pass into the receptacles of the safety fuse devices,'and make direct contact with the brassshell constituting a terminal thereof. 'lhe fuse-plugs 6, which constitute another terminal, are allixable within the socket by means of the usual screw threads, so as to 'be capable of being adjustably pressed with any desired force and through the central con tact points 51, into direct contact with the underlying conductor, which in one case will take place through the perforation in the insulating sheath and directly with the exposed part of the bus-bar, shown to the left of Fig. 1, and in the other, directly with the cross-bar termination within the socket.

'Fig. 5 illustrates my invention as embodied in a manner, Somewhat reverse to the form just described, wherein the fuse plugs centrally contact directly against the underlying bus-bars or bus-bar extensions, since in the embodiment of Fig. 5 it is the opposite terminal of the safety fuse device, 'i. e, the brass shell of the recepttule, that contarts with the bus-bars or extensions therefrom. The fuse-plugs, which constitute the other terminal of the safety fuse devices, contact directly with the branch line terminals. This modification possesses certain advantages over the first-mentioned form, as it affords a sonnwvhat better way'of mak-. ing positive and direct contacts between the brass shell, the fuse-plug tip and the branch line terminals, btsidcs having other mechanical and electrical conveniences and excellcncics. In this arrangement it will be noted that both terminals of the safety fuse device make the desired and sought lor direct contacts with the amn'opriate conductors, which are the bus-bars on the one hand and the branch line terminals on the other. The shell, which in this construction constitutes one of the terminals of thc salc'ty fusc dcvicc, is provided with a bottom portion 4 which makes direct contact with the conductor upon which it rests, such portion being integal with the threaded cylindrical portion. piece of insulating'material 7, placed above such contact portion, separates it from thebranch line terminal 6, which passes through an orifice in the side of. the rece tacle and rests upon such intermediate insu ating material 7. The brass shell will preferably also be shaped or cut away to an istic features.

extent sufficient to insure against any possibility of short circuiting with such branch line terminal 6, which makes its connection with such shell through the superposed fuseplug, which is supported by such shell and is adapted to be screwed therein .to bring its tip t the other terminal of the safety fuse device) into direct contact with the branch line terrninalfi. The connection with'the underlying bar is, secured through the shell,

'comprising in the shown embodiment a minal of thesafety fuse device.

plug andsocket, will be securely positioned so as to directly overlie a bus-bar. By screwing down the plug its tip, which constitutes one terminal of the safety fuse de vice, will directly abut the branch line terminal. The 'lattdr transmits this pressure through an insulating layer to the inturned shell bottom, which constitutes the other tor- The latter terminal in turn abuts directly against an underlying conductor which will be a busbar or an extension supported by a bus-bar. Thus it will be seen that by merely screwing down the plug all the contacting surfaces are )rcsscd together with the same force, thereby positively insuring against, loosc cout-actsl The branch line terminals arc thus clamped bctwccn the terminals of thc sal'cty lusc device, and in l acl all'lhc contacting surfaces w'ill bcclampcd togcthcr in this arrangement. The adyautagcs ol' thc construction will appear to cvcry electrician.

It will thus be soon that l havc' dcviscd a means well adapted to realize thc various obiccis of my invention. e

A panel board constru ted as discloscd has but low contacts and intcrposcd conductors. 'l'hc circuits arc all short. and diroot and many,hcrctol'orc uscd parts have bccu dispcnscd with. Not only havev these improvements been accomplished, but a very compact and highly mechanical struc- IIIIQ has been attained with a conctunitant saving of material and space.

. As many changes could be made in the above construction andmany :mparcntly widely (lilltltlll. embodiments of this invenlltH. could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all n'iaticr contained in the above dcsc'riplion or shown, in the accom )anying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intendcd to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hcrcin described and all statements of 'thc scope of thc inven- 1,l()ll which, as a matter ol language. might be said to tall thercbctwccn.

llaving-described my invention, what I claim as ncw and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz--- t l. In a panel board, the combination of [use plug receptacles, with underlying bus' bars indirect contact with a terminal of each of a number ol said receptacles.

2. In a panel board, the combination of tusc plugs and receptacles, with an underlying bus bar in direct contam with a terminalof each ol certain of said receptacles, and a branch line piece leading into and directly contacting with the fuse plug contained in said receptacles.

3. In a panel board, the combination of bus-bars wilh a fuse plug rtwcpteclc com prising a metal shell, mouming one ol said bus-bars, a fuse-plug within said shell and n'oviding a terminal spaced away from sziitl shell, a branch line piece in; contact with. said lusts-plug terminal, and an extension from another busbar terminating bclow' the shell ol suid rcccptaclc and in dircct contact therewith.

4. ln- :1. panel board, a pair of bus-bars, cross-bars in part undcrlying one of said bus-bars in direct contact thcrcwith and cxtcnding over the othcr bus-bar and insulated thcrcl'rom, and l'usc-plug receptacles in direct cont.act w'ith said cross-bars.

5. ln a panel board,'thc colnbimition withv bus-bars of diverse polarity, of cross-bars oxtcndingl'rom contact; thcrcwith and termi- Hating abovothc oppositc bus-ba and insulated thcrcl'rom, sal'cty l'usc dcviccs mounlcd dirccl ly ovcr said cross-bar tcrmilnitions and having terminals exposed and making direct contact thorcwith, sul ctyl'usc dcviccs also mounted upon said bus-bars and having tcrminnls cxpcscd and making dircct contact.

with thc uudcrlving lms-bars, and branch line picccs cxtcudiug into said dcviccs and n'ntking dii'cct contact with thcir othcr torminnls.

t). .\n clcct'rical switch board comprising, in combination, a plurality olbus-bars, a l usc plug roccptiuzlc rcstiug 'ipon onc ol' said .aid rcccptaclc sur bus-bars and having a terminal in direct contact wlth the upper exposed surface thereof,

an extension from said bus-bar terminating above another bus-bar but insulated therefrom and anotherfnseplug receptacle mounte lover said termination and the underlying bus-bar and having a terminal making direct contact with the upper exposed surface of .said terminati m.

S. In a device of the class (lGSC1ll')('-Ll, a lead,

a fuse-plug receptacle surmount ing said lead, and providing a terminal contacting said lead, a fuse plug having a termii'ial opposite the aforesaid terminal a piece of insulating material interposed between said opposite terminals, a conductor intermediate said terminals whereby one of said terminals may be brought into 'lirm contact with said intermediate conductor passing out of said receptaclc and the other terminal brought into direct contact with the lead lying beneath said receptacle.

9. A panel board comprising, in combination, a bus-bar, an overlying safety fuse device having a terminal in direct contact with said. bus-bar and having another terminal movable toward the former terminal, a conductor between said terminals and in direct contact with the movable terminal, and insulation interposed between said conductor and the first-mentioned terminal.

10. A panel boardcomprisii'ig, in combination, a safety fuse device having two terminals movable together and adapted to serve as a clamp, a conductor clamped between said terminals and contacting directly with one only of said terminals, and another conductor in direct contact with the other of said terminals.

1 1. A panel board comprising, in combination, a safety fuse device providing two relatively movable terminals adapted to fornra clamp, a conductor clamped between said terminals and directly contacting with one but insulated from the other terminal, and an underlying bus-bar in direct contact with said other terminal. I

12. A panel board comprising, in combination, a bus-bar, an overlying conductor insulated therefrom, a superposed safety fuse device providing two terminals adapted to serve a clamp, one of said terminals being in direct contact with said conductor, and an interposed conductor clamped between said terminals and in direct contact with one only of said 'terminals.-

'13. A panel board comprising, in combination, a main line conductor, a surmounting safety fuse device having a terminal in direct contact with said main line conductor and having a vertically adjustable terminal movable toward said. other terminal, and a branch line conductor terminating between said terminals in direct contact with said movable terminal but insulated from said other terminal, where by all of said parts may be clamped together by adjusting said movable terminal.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HUBERT KRANTT Witnesses:

S. L. WHITLOCK, J A. NEWTON. 

